Directions

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'There is no such thing as a right position, but there is such a thing as a right direction'

F M Alexander ~ Aphorisms ~ Mouritz 2000

There is are some common mis-conceptions that Alexander Technique lessons are about improving our posture, or that we learn to sit and stand with a straight back, or that we learn some exercises.  It is true that many people become more poised when taking Alexander lessons but these changes are the result of learning to think differently about the way we approach activities.  Alexander realised that the most important thing was how we do things, because this influences the functioning of our whole body. In lessons, we spend time becoming aware of how our thoughts influence our reactions and movements. We think about how we move when we sit, stand and perform simple tasks so that we can let go of old habits of mis-use and allow our bodies to move more freely. We then begin to transfer this learning to more complicated activities in our lives.

Alexander said 'It's not getting in and out of chairs even under the best of conditions that is of any value: that is simply physical culture. It is what you have been doing in preparation that counts when it comes to making movements.' Aphorisms - Mouritz 2000

In order to bring about any changes in the way you use yourself, you need to develop awareness of your existing attitudes with their associated patterns of use and mis-use, whilst performing your usual activities and during your Alexander lessons. Gradually, you will learn to associate the words spoken by your teacher, with the changes in your use and the proprioceptive sensations you experience as she gently guides your movements. In this way you will learn to distinguish between unhelpful habits that cause problems and the new, improved use of yourself.

In lessons, you will learn to think in activity, so that you are able to inhibit, stopping any habits of mis-use before you act. You also learn to give yourself a set of orders, or directions, both before and during any movement, so that you think and act with awareness of the primary control. With this process you refuse to just react to stimuli by, for instance, contracting down into yourself, so that you can then choose to move, sit or rest freely and expansively, all the time maintaining your length and poise.

As Alexander put it when teaching - 'Go on with the orders right through the whole piece, once, twice, thrice. You have inhibited the wrong movements at the beginning, and given the new orders as you make the movement, how can you be wrong?' Aphorisms - Mouritz 2000

You need to learn the words shown below, so that it becomes second nature to give yourself these directions during everyday life. In this way you will be able to bring about the changes in your use, which you have experienced in lessons, whilst going about your daily activities. You will find that over time, you will begin to use these directions semi-automatically, so that you approach everything you do with your directions in mind. When you try a new or difficult task, then you will be wise to very consciously use inhibition and give yourself directions, so that you approach the task with awareness of your use and so help yourself avoid potential problems.

• Inhibit the urge to rush into performing any action, then give yourself directions, one at a time and altogether, as Alexander is reputed to have said

• Let my neck be free
• Let my head go forward and up
• Let my back lengthen and widen
• Let my knees go out and away

Stop and Inhibit ~ Think and Direct ~ then Move